England Nature Plan Identifies 32% of Land for 2030 Target but Relies on Voluntary Landowner Action

The government published a plan on Monday to protect and restore nature in England by 2030. The strategy calls for landowners to voluntarily opt to protect and enhance nature rather than establishing new legal protections across more land. Ministers stated the plan would accelerate action toward an international commitment made by more than 100 countries at the 2022 Cop15 talks in Montreal to restore 30% of nature by 2030.

Government analysis shows that just 7% of land in England currently meets the criteria. The plan identifies land covering about 32% of England that already contributes or could contribute to the target, while acknowledging that success requires a step change in ambition, coordination and delivery.

Environment minister Mary Creagh said the plan was a call to action for land managers, farmers and communities.

Ministers added that success in national parks and national landscapes would depend on private landowners because most of that land is privately owned. Nature writer Guy Shrubsole said the plan represented failed politics of the past 40 years. He stated that ministers had admitted they were failing to meet their own target and had issued a desperate plea for voluntary action instead of new policies.

The RSPB called the strategy deeply disappointing and completely insufficient. The plan treats sites of special scientific interest as the gold standard for counting toward the target but contains no plans or timeline to create new ones. It comes as the Church of England prepares to vote on Tuesday on a motion to rewild 30% of its land by 2030.

Currently 3.5% of the church’s land is used for nature restoration. Rev Canon Val Plumb will introduce the private motion to the General Synod. For the motion to pass it would need majority support among the 480 synod members.